The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 9 May 2020 – TOPIC: THERE IS HOPE
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DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020
TOPIC: THERE IS HOPE!
READ: EZEKIEL 37:11-14 (NKJV)
11. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
12. “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13. “Then you shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14. “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken [it] and performed [it,”] says the LORD.’ “
THE MESSAGE:
The dry bones have been clearly identified as the people of Israel. While in exile (before their restoration), Israel could look back to their good old days when they had a good relationship with God. They groaned saying “our bones are dry, our hope is lost ….” (verse 11). But they were wrong. Their hope was not lost; “a broken and contrite heart, God would not despise” (Psalm 51:17). In their groaning broken heart, God’s mercy burst upon them. See verse 12: “Oh my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves and bring you into the land of Israel.”
No matter the level of spiritual decay in any person, community, Church or group, if there is a broken and contrite heart of remorse and repentance, there is hope for restoration. God of mercy is ever on the throne, so rather than give up or surrender to apparently hopeless situations, our text encourages us to hope for a brighter day of God’s intervention (see Romans 15:4). Just as God brought life to the dead bones, He will also bring life to the spiritually dead. So also our hopeless situations He will transform, to put smiles on our faces.
PRAYER: Father, please turn our darkness into light and our sorrows into joy.